After My Fall from Power, My Mute Husband Helps Me Reach for the Heavens

[A scheming, fallen playgirl heroine + a clueless hero who grows over time] [Historical romance + matriarchal society + redemption + beautiful but tragic leads + court intrigue + groveling] He Yaozhen had fallen into ruin. The entire He family, the richest household in Jiangnan, was executed. She, the youngest legitimate daughter, was the only one to slip through the net. The once-spoiled playgirl was left to die in a ruined temple. A poor little mute in ragged clothes braved the wind and rain to bring her home, saying she was his benefactor. He Yaozhen racked her memory but couldn’t recall anyone like him. Still, now that they depended on each other, she had to hold their storm-tossed household together. She went from writing letters for people on the street to becoming a top-ranking official. Later generations had mixed opinions of her, but her devotion and faithfulness were the envy of many. Official histories even recorded that her husband was merely a mute from a poor family... A forum, a thousand years later. Little Meow Meow: [I’ve been reading History of Dongxia lately. Chief Councilor He Yaozhen, from Emperor Yongping’s reign, is so fascinating! She stirs up border conflicts with her silver tongue, profits from the chaos, and constantly leaves the old court officials utterly bewildered ^_^] Silk Thread: [The best part is that she’s beautiful and devoted. If I were her, I’d burn incense and pray every single day.] Ling Zhong: [You think her mute husband didn’t do the same? The Miscellaneous Records of Liling once recorded that she took her husband with her when she was posted out of town. Her mute husband’s close friend told her own wife in confidence that Chu burned incense and prayed to Buddha every day, thanking Heaven for giving him such a wife!] User 37: [Unofficial histories say she wasn’t exactly a good person either. She seduced widowers, took over the property of families with no heirs, eloped with her former fiance, and sucked up to princes. So much for being devoted to one person!] Little Meow Meow: [What if she married you?] User 37: [Then forget I said anything.]